Baby diaper



Ndv. 13, 1956 H7 STARR 2,770,237

BABY DIAPER Filed Aug. 14, 1955 INVENTOR v arriez Starr ATTORNEY BABY DIAPER Harriet Starr, New York, N. Y.

Application August 14, 1953, Serial No. 374,299

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-287) This invention relates to baby diapers.

Broadly, it is an object of the invention to provide a diaper which can be securely fastened in position upon a child without the aid of pins of any kind and which can snugly and securely be safely and rapidly fastened in position and will properly fit the child.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a waterproof outer sheet in association with the diaper and opposed flaps which can be folded inwardly to provide a multiplicity of layers so that the moisture will be retained and absorbed in the diaper eliminating the necessity of waterproof panties.

Another object is to provide a diaper in combination with waterproof outer covering which can be easily washed as a unit and which will dry as fast as the diapers heretofore used.

Still another object is to provide a diaper shaped to form and which is adjustable to the average waist dimension of the child.

Another object is to provide flaps of a specific dimension so that such flaps may be folded in a plurality of layers lengthwise that will lie perfectly flat against the body of the child without the danger of such folds becoming uncomfortable for the child.

Still another object is to provide a diaper which will have a multiplicity of folds the entire length of the diaper to provide maximum absorption of moisture and permits the child to be rapidly diapered in virtually any position in which it happens to be.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diaper which eliminates the necessity of using a separate pair of waterproof panties and provides tapes at the necessary points to permit rapid tieing of the diaper in position upon the child and attaching of the diaper to the undershirt in order to prevent the undershirt from riding up.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is bad to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the diaper with the tiestrings tied in position as it would appear when used on a child.

Fig. 2 is an outer view of the diaper with the opposed flaps or panels in open and unfolded position.

Fig. 3 is an inside view showing the diaper with its longitudinal flaps or panels in inwardly folded position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken through line 4-4 of the diaper shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 10 represents a diaper comprising an inner central shaped panel 11 and two like inner opposed panels 12, 13 of soft absorbent fabric. The shaped panel 11 is covered on its outer side with a panel 14 of waterproof material shaped the same as panel 11. The ends of the panels are all folded inwardly where they join the shaped inner and outer panels 11 and 14 and are stitched adjacent the outer longitudinal opposed edges of such shaped panels by stitching 15, 15 and 16, 16. Panels 11 and 14 are stitched together along United States Patent i 2,770,237 l ateiited Nov. 13, 1956 one longitudinal edge 17 to the attached end of panel 12 and along the other longitudinal edge 18 to the attached end of panel 13 by stitching 19. The panels 11, 14 and 12 and 13 are folded-inwardly so that stitching 19 is hidden in the finished diaper. i p

The free ends of panels 12, 13 are tapered toward the extreme end 20 so that when panels 12, 13 are each folded like the panel 13 shown in Fig. 3, the front and back edges 21, 22 will be stepped inwardly avoiding bunching of the fabric at the front and rear and causing the diaper to lie smoothly at the front and rear. Panels 12 and 13 are sufficiently long to be folded inwardly each providing three folds so that with panel 11, seven folds are provided to absorb moisture. The three free edges of panels 12 and 13 are finished with overlook stitches to prevent fraying of the edges.

Tapes 23 and 24 are stitched across the front and rear, respectively, by double rows of stitching 16 and 25 leaving free ends extending beyond the diaper for tieing. An elastic tape (not shown) is provided and stitched in extended position beneath tape 24 along: the back edge 26 to provide stretchability along the rear edge 26 while the front edge 27 is non-extensible. While I have designated 26 and 27 as the rear and front ends or edges, I have done so for the purpose of convenience in describing those portions of the diaper. However, this diaper may be worn reversed, viz what I have designated the front may be the rear and vice versa.

Tapes 28, 28 and 29, 29 are attached to the ends 31, 32 of the arcs 30 so that when the diaper is folded upon the child in the position shown in Fig. 1 the arcs 30 form the leg openings 33 and tapes 28, 29 are tied together to form bows 34. The arcuate portions 30 are formed so that when the diaper is worn the arcs fit snugly around the thighs of the child preventing any liquid from passing out of the diaper. The free ends of tapes 24, 25 are tied together to form bows 35 to hold the diaper about the waistline. Small tapes 36, 36 folded upon themselves are attached to the front corners to permit the undershirt (not shown) worn by the child to be pinned to the tapes 36, if desired, to prevent the undershirt from riding up.

It should be noted that the waterproof material 14 has all its edges folded inwardly and is attached completely around all the outer edges of the diaper by stitching so that the child cannot catch any edge with the fingers thus preventing the mutilation or destruction of the waterproof material. It should be further noted that only the soft absorbent fabric of the diaper comes in contact with the skin of the child and the tie strings can be easily tied with the required amount of tension so that the waist and thighs of the child are not irritated by binding. The waist has resiliency because of the elastic band so that the waistline can expand with the movements and expansion of the stomach.

It is obvious that the mother saves a great deal of time in applying a combined diaper and waterproof covering. Such saving of time is especially valuable when handling an irritable child and especially an older child who generally struggles during the process of dressing. It is also obvious that completely stitching the edges of the waterproof material to the diaper fabric strengthens the waterproof covering. A further advantage is obvious in that one instead of two articles is being laundered and handled.

The use of my diaper hereinbefore described is absolutely safe since no safety pins or other metal fastening means is used. This provides a safe form of diaper covering which prolongs its use. It is well known that the so-called safety pin is a constant source of danger in many respects such as the possibility of injuring the child while applying the safety pin, the danger of the pin opening, the possibility of dislodging the pin so that p child can swallow it or injure itself, etc.

The points of safety pins also become blunt so that constant use will tear the fibres of the material. Many safety pins which are not properly finished or made of the best material also rust thus discoloring the diaper and providing an unsanitary source of danger; 1 a

My diaper 'hereinbefore described can be boiled in its complete'form without injuring the waterproof material.

,It is further obvious that various changes and modifications r'nay be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the general "spirit 'of the invention.

Adia'perof the character disclosed comprising an inner-panel having opposite edge portions thereof folded inwardly into adjacency to the inner face thereof, a

water proofpanel disposed outwardly of said inner panel and having opposite edge portions thereof folded inwardly into lapping engagement with said first inwardly folded portions, a pair of like panels of soft absorbent material of substantially greater width than said first and second panels, one of said pair of panels having one edge portion thereof folded inwardly into contact with one of said inwardly folded portions of said water-proof panel, said one of said pair of panels having spaced folds providing a plurality of superposed layers intermediate the folded edge portions of the first and second named panels, the other of said pair of panels having one edge portion thereof folded inwardly into contact with the other of said inwardly folded portions of said water-proof panel, said last panel being also provided with spaced folds providing a plurality of superposed layers inwardly of said first plurality of layers, and means securing all of said inwardly folded edge portions together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schwarzberger July 1 8, 1950 Neal Nov. 2.1, 1950 

